Steve's Blog
Thursday September 20, 2012

Hi everyone

We're working hard on a grant application this month, hence the lack of Updates lately. However, there are now heaps of concerts coming up and they are now previewed on our website.

1. Concert Updates on the website

There are new write-ups on our shows on the website, so please take a look. Most of them include links to You Tube videos by the bands, and most artists' websites - which are linked in - contain audio samples and / or full songs for download. There are posters for you to download and / or email to your friends, too, and of course, you can buy tickets right there on the concert page. Concerts are linked to each other sequentially, so start at the Paul McKenna Band this Saturday and follow the links right up to Lunasa on November 2nd. there will be more added soon, too, so keep visiting our website.

2. Paul McKenna Band on Saturday, September 22nd, 8pm at St. james Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

This brilliant young Celtic band from Scotland returns for a second visit to the Rogue. They were last here in March of last year, and since then have released their 2nd CD, Stem The Tide. On their website you can enjoy their home made videos of trips to Owen Sound and Edmonton last month, and there's a free download of Ewan MacColl's song, Terror Time, too. The band now features the excellent fiddler Mike Vass, who was last seen here with Malinky a few years ago. They play with great energy and the blend of fiddle and flute, driven by bodhran and guitar, is very distinctive and, along with their excellent 4-part harmonies, is a trademark sound of this fine band. www.paulmckennaband.com

3. Chris Smither on Sunday, September 23rd, 8pm, at NSCUCPA at Capilano University (2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver)

Chris has long been one of my favourite songwriters and guitarists, and this year he's released two new CDs: a 6 song EP called What I Learned In School (covers of classics like Working In A Coal Mine and The Price Of Love) and the brand new collection of 11 original songs: Hundred Dollar Valentine. We'll have our Membership Table set up at the back of the lobby as usual. Come and say "Hello" and check out our "wares"! Tickets are available from the Cap Box Office on 604-990-7810. www.chrissmither.com

4. Don & Brooke, El Grupo Cubano, Martyn Joseph / Steve Dawson next weekend

On Friday September 28th Canadian guitar legend Don Ross returns to St. James Hall, with a hot new CD (Upright & Locked Position) and his wife Brooke Miller (who also has a brand new CD) Don's website is www.gobyfish.com and Brooke's is www.brookemiller.ca The following night it's the Farewell Party and CD Launch for Cuba's El Grupo Cubano - Brisas del Palmar, again at St. James Hall. We'll leave a big dance floor of this one! The CD, Santiago En Suenos, was recorded and produced in Vancouver by Steve Dawson, and it's a wonderful collection of songs featuring their amazing harmonies and sublime guitar work. Steve Dawson hosts Welsh songwriter Martyn Joseph on Sunday 30th at The Electric Owl on Main Street (take the Skytrain!) They will each play a short set and then get together for a unique collaboration. Tickets for this show can be obtained at the Cap Box Office.

5. The Hunt For Rogue October!

The Rogue continues its 25th Anniversary Celebrations with The Hunt For Rogue October: An incredible array of concerts throughout the month, including the debut of Celtic band Comas (4th), England's Songwriter General Jez Lowe (5th), Quebec's rootsiest, grooviest bluesman Ray Bonneville (7th), a CD Launch for Jenny Ritter (13th) and the return of 2012 BBC Folk Awards Winners Oysterband (19th). And that's just a start! Check it all out on our website, and plan your month!

6. Blackie tickets

We have 80 of the very best seats in the house for Blackie & The Rodeo Kings on November 27th at The Vogue. We exchanged our original batch for 80 in the front, centre rows (because Tom Wilson told me he wants to see heaps of smiling Rogues when he looks out from the stage!) They are slightly cheaper from us than for anyone else, and we have the best seats. We'll have them on sale at our Membership Table for the next few shows. Or you can book them by sending an email or calling 604-736-3022 and we'll call you back to collect your credit card details.

7. New Visa / MC / Interac machine!

We've taken another leap forward into the technological age with a portable Visa / MasterCard / Interac terminal. We can now process your orders instantly, and, for the first time, we can now accept Interac cards for payment.

8. The Edge On Folk, Saturday 8am to noon, CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca

On this week's show I'll have new music from Maria Muldaur (a tribute to Memphis Minnie), Irish singer Colum Sands, Alabama's Caroline Herring, Italy's Enza Pagliara, Derbyshire's Fay Hield and Hannah James, Alberta's Bill Bourne, and some Danish ukulele music! Plus concert previews and whatever else takes my fancy! Please join me for four hours of the very best in Roots, Folk, and and World Music. You can listen live on 101.9fm, on Telus TV Channel 3717, or online on www.citr.ca (podcasts will be available later in the weekend too.) Speaking of podcasts, I understand that the "lost" podcasts from july and earlier have now been recovered. Yay! Enjoy...

Have a great weekend. Looks like the last blast of Summer, so get out there and enjoy it - and then come inside for some mighty fine musical enrichment with the Paul McKenna Band on Saturday night.

Steve